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Looking South from Forester Pass on the JMT towards Tyndall Creek, the Kern Canyon, and the Great Western Divide.

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A High Sierra Trail Guide in Eight Sections

The Index of High Sierra Trails between Lake Tahoe and Mount Whitney

back to the trailhead

Desolation Wilderness

Section One: The Lake Tahoe Basin

Lake Tahoe Trailhead Options

South to the Carson Gap exit from the Tahoe Basin

The Lake Tahoe Basin is the Northern bookend of the High Sierras, marking the Northern extent of the high altitude range, and a delightful place to backpack on its own.

As we hike South towards Mount Whitney we will experience constantly increasing altitudes until we finally find ourrselves hiking for miles along an 11,000 foot plateau approaching the trail up to the highest elevation in the continental United States at the top of Mount Whitney.

But you don't have to hike all the way to Mount Whitney. The Carson, Ebbetts, and Sonora Passes precede Tuolumne Meadow on the trails South, and all are excellent destinations for medium and long distance backpacking trips out of the Lake Tahoe Basin, if you don't stay inside. You don't have to leave. It's nice backpacking in the Tahoe Basin.

THREE TRAILHEAD OPTIONS AROUND LAKE TAHOE

The three trailhead options (map) around Lake Tahoe described here were selected because they represent the range of options for long-distance and local hikers beginning long High Sierra backpacking trips South from Lake Tahoe.

Hikers South on the PCT from Highway 80 meet the TYT near Velma Lake. while Driving South from Highway 80 on Highway 89 brings us to the Classic Tahoe to Yosemite Trailhead at Meeks Bay along the Western Shore of Lake Tahoe. Those driving to Lake Tahoe on Highway 50 can begin their trips at Echo Summit or Christmas Valley, or turn North at Highway 89 to the Tahoe to Yosemite Trailhead at Meeks Bay.

Our trail guide picks up clockwise TRT hikers coming South down from the Eastern reaches of the Carson Range at Big Meadow & hikers out of the South Tahoe Basin at Christmas Valley.

I use these trailheads to launch my favorite trip and the focus of this trail guide, backpacking the High Sierra from Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney. I started probing various areas in the Sierra before deciding to get a bird's eye view of the whole High Sierra from the Crest Trails between Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney.

The trailheads described here are as good for short trips and local loops around the Tahoe Basin as they are for long distance hikes South. This is also true down the trail. Almost all yof our favorite trailheads lead to the long trails, if you want them to.

You are invited to contribute your own notes on these trails, trail heads, trail experiences, trail culture reports, as well as trail and weather conditions. The Trails Forum linked to each trail guide page allows you to upload pictures or videos to compliment every description on this guide, as well as adding your favorite local routes and experiences on these High Sierra Nevada Trails.

TWO + ROUTE OPTIONS

Besides these three trailhead options out of Lake Tahoe, you also have two major route options through the Northern Sierras between Lake Tahoe and Tuolumne Meadows. This trail guide covers both the Tahoe to Yosemite and the Pacific Crest Trail routes between Lake Tahoe and Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite.

We also cover the small divergences between these two routes South of Tuolumne, as well as some interesting alternative route options off of the JMT South of TM.

Quick Facts: Tahoe to Whitney

Topo Hiking Maps Index

Elevations/Mileages Index

Lake Tahoe Resources/Transportation

Side Trips/Short Loops: Everywhere!

Car Camping

Read, or add your own hiker's comments about Trail Section #1 and the Trail Segments it contains

Desolation Wilderness, Tahoe to Yosemite Trail Head at Meeks Bay.

The Tahoe to Yosemite Trailhead at Meeks Bay. The Desolation Wilderness begins at the end of the road.

Lake Tahoe from South of Echo Summit on the Pacific Crest & Tahoe to Yosemite Trails

Christmas Valley in fog, above the South Upper Truckee Trail head in Meyers.

Echo Chalet at the Echo Lake Trail head and Marina

Resupply Point #1

Echo Lake Chalet

Echo Lake Chalet is located at the South end of Lower Echo Lake just past where the Southbound hiker exits the Southernmost Desolation Wilderness Trailhead. If you chose to begin your journey South through the Meeks Bay Trailhead, you will pass the Echo Lake Chalet. Echo Lake is the very popular Southern Entrance North into the heavily used Desolation Wilderness.

Echo Chalet is not a vital resupply point for Southbound Tahoe to Whitney or Tahoe to Yosemite Backpackers. The reason is that the Chalet is only 28.71 miles South of the Meeks Bay Trail Head on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail. And, the Echo Lake Chalet sits North of our Echo Summit and South Upper Truckee trailheads, which makes it completely irrelevant for Southbound packers out of those two trailheads.

As my standard food load is five days, and I carry up to 11 days of food, I prefer to carry the food necessary to cover the 68 mile distance between Meeks Bay and the Lake Alpine Lodge, so I don't rely on Echo Chalet for resupply.

The 68 miles separating the Meeks Bay Trailhead from the Lake Alpine Lodge on Highway 4 makes the Lake Alpine Lodge my first resupply point South of Meeks Bay. I rely on Echo Lake for a boost of good fresh food and milkshake power.

The Echo Lake Chalet is a vital resource for Northbound backpackers on the Pacific Crest Trail. Their previous resupply point, typically, was 75 miles South at Sonora Pass. Check out this discussion of your Northbound Resupply Options between Tuolumne Meadows and the Echo Lake Chalet.

Read more about your Southbound route options along the Pacific Crest Trail or the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail on the Trail Guide Index, on the Carson Gap Trail Guide page, in the maps section, and in the miles and elevations pages. This information will provide you with a variety of basic information about these routes to tailor your resupply plans to your needs and capacities.

The Echo Lake Chalet

Meiss Country Roadless Area

Echo Summit

Section One B:

Echo Summit and South Upper Truckee trailheads to the Carson Gap

Backpackers using the Echo Summit or the South Upper Truckee trailheads will find much quieter backpacking in the Meiss Country Roadless Area than they would have experienced starting at Meeks Bay.

These trailheads also knock a few miles off of the 181 miles between Meeks Bay and Tuolumne Meadows on the TYT.

This section of the trail guide explores a triangular section of the Meiss Roadless Area on the Southwestern end of the Tahoe Basin. The top of the triangle stretches from Echo Summit to the Carson Gap, narrowing down to the South Upper Truckee Road trail head. This is the extent of the Meiss Country Roadless area.

Echo Summit and the South Upper Truckee Trailheads are both excellent trailheads to begin short, medium, and long distance backpacking trips around the Northern Sierra Nevada, if not for a long trek South to Tuolumne Meadows or Mount Whitney.

South Upper Truckee

Echo Summit Trail Head.

The South Upper Truckee Trail Head.

Mokelumne Wilderness

North side: Carson Gap and Pass

Section Two:

The Carson Gap to Highway 4

The Carson Gap is the point where Southbound backpackers exit the Lake Tahoe Basin.

This is where the Southbound Pacific Crest and Tahoe to Yosemite Trails first part, and from here you will follow your selected route South towards Highway 4.

If you're following the Pacific Crest Trail, your route will bring you Southeast through Carson Pass and subsequently down the Eastern flank of the Sierra Crest to Ebbetts Pass.

If you are following the Tahoe to Yosemite trail, your route will bring you around the Southwest flank of Round Top and The Sisters, to hike the Western Flank of the Sierras to Lake Alpine.

In short, you will be heading to either the East or West of Round Top, the mountain pictured at top Left, on your way to Highway 4.

This section contains a route discussion comparing the terrain, mileage, elevations, and the different characteristics of these two trails.

Excellent Video describing your PCT-TY trail choice

South side: Ebbetts Pass and Lake Alpine

Passing through the Carson Gap with the July bloom.

Approaching Ebbetts Pass from the North, Looking NE

Heading South out of the Tahoe Basin through the Carson Gap on the PCT-TY trails. Round Top decorates our Southern view. The PCT heads Left, East of Round Top, while the TYT tracks around its Western flank.

Approaching Ebbetts Pass and Highway 4 from the North on the Pacific Crest Trail. This is the view to the NE.

The Carson Pass Cabin at Carson Pass on Highway 88. I only see Carson Pass if I am following the Pacific Crest Trail South.

Lake Alpine viewed from Bee Gulch, as we drop off of the top of Mount Reba approaching Lake Alpine at Highway 4 on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

Resupply Point #2

Highway 4

Ebbetts Pass and Lake Alpine

Lake Alpine Lodge

and/or

Bear Valley

Lake Alpine Lodge sign on Highway 4.

Bear Valley, 3 miles West from Lake Alpine, this bear marks Bear Valley

Carson Iceberg Wilderness

Highland Creek Trail head, E side of Lake Alpine

Section Three: Ebbetts Pass to Sonora Pass

Highway 4 to Highway 108

There are two major Southbound trailheads on Highway 4, the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail heading South from the East Side of Lake Alpine, and the Southbound Pacific Crest Trail out of Ebbetts Pass.

The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

Lake Alpine Backpacker

Big Topo Hiking Map: Lake Alpine to Saint Marys Pass

Click the RED DOTS on the map for Trail Guide Page

The Pacific Crest Trail

Ebbetts Pass Backpacker

Big Topo Hiking Map: Ebbetts Pass to Sonora Pass

Click the RED DOTS on the map for Trail Guide Page

Leavitt Peak from Sonora Gap. Sonora Pass is at base of mastif

Leavitt Peak (it's not visible behind the mountaintop in back) from the Sonora Gap, Pacific Crest Trail, looking South towards the Sonora Pass on Hwy 108. The Sonora Pass is situated beyond the low hill in foreground and the mountains in the background.

Highland Creek Trail head, E side of Lake Alpine, South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

Ebbetts Pacific Crest Trail head, Southbound

One beat-up Pacific Crest Trail marker, Southbound PCT at Ebbetts Pass.

Kennedy Meadows Pack Station, with the Stueve Family's Milk Wagon

Resupply Point #3

Highway 108

Kennedy Meadows Pack Station

I love this place!

Don't miss Kennedy Meadows on your trip along the Sierra Crest! Euros and other visitors who wish to experience the Modern West should reserve a cabin and hang out!

The E Sierra towns of Walker and Bridgeport (Hwy 395)

Kennedy Meadows Pack Station, with the Stueve Family's Milk Wagon.

Emigrant Wilderness

Section Four: Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows

Highway 108 to Highway 120

The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

KENNEDY MEADOWS to TUOLUMNE MEADOWS, The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route South through the Emigrant Basin, to connect with the PCT below Bond Pass.

The Pacific Crest Trail

SONORA PASS to TUOLUMNE MEADOWS, The Pacific Crest Trail route South to Tuolumne Meadows.

Quick Facts

Maps

Elevations & Mileages

TYT

PCT

Tuolumne Meadows Resources/Transportation

Resupply Points: Tuolumne Meadows Store, Tuolumne Meadows Post Office, Lee Vining.

Side Trips/Short Loops

Car Camping

Read, or add your own hiker's comments about Trail Section #3 and the Trail Segments it contains

Sonora Pass, Highway 108, Westbound. This is your low point between Sierra Peaks.

Lembert Dome in morning light, Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite. Sammy Shannon walked me up the sunlit side. Yikes.

Tuolumne Meadow Cafe, Post Office, and Store

Resupply Point #4

Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite, Highway 120

A top quality long-time staff is complimented, and challenged by, everything the world can throw at them, including urban idiots and outdoor specialists from all around our country and all over the world.

Tuolumne Meadows Grill, Post Office, and Store

Tuolumne Meadow Cafe, Post Office, and Store

Trail Guide Construction Notes

I have not yet completed any of the trail guide elements for the trails between Tuolumne Meadows and Mount Whitney.

I hope to have at least the Maps and Mileages info up before the upcoming Summer backpacking season begins in earnest.